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Simply The Best – Silva Stops Franklin in Two
By Thomas Gerbasi

CINCINNATI, October 20 –


UFC 77 Poster

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If anyone doubted the validity of Anderson Silva’s first win over Rich Franklin last year, they are not doubting it anymore after the UFC Middleweight Champion defended his crown for the second time with a second round stoppage of the man he won the title from in a more competitive but equally dominant fight at a packed U.S. Bank Arena Saturday night.

“Rich is a great athlete, a great champion and a great person, and he deserves respect,” said Silva, who halted Franklin in the first round at UFC 64 on October 14, 2006. “I was just doing my job.”

“He had me tonight, what can I say,” said Franklin. “I just want to say thanks to Anderson. He’s a great champion and a great guy.”

Entering the Octagon to a deafening roar that almost drowned out Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, Franklin looked much more confident than he did for his first fight against Silva and actually had a spring in his step as he waited for the champion to join him. And when the lights dimmed and Silva walked into battle to the strains of DMX’ ‘Ain’t no sunshine’, the crowd initially booed, but then just settled into a murmur of anticipation for what was about to come.

Of course, the boos began again when Silva
was introduced, which was unfortunate for the classy champion, especially since the equally classy Franklin invoked the crowd to cheer for his foe.

But there would be no friendships when the bell rang, and Franklin was busy early with leg kicks and quick jabs to the head. Silva didn’t fire his first shot until 55 seconds had elapsed, and that was a knee to the body followed by an attempt at the same clinch that ended Franklin’s title reign in 2006. This time though, Franklin fought the attempt off well, and after a brief scramble against the fence, the bout hit the mat. Silva would rise after a few moments of the ground, and Franklin got close and pushed Silva to the fence. After breaking, the two engaged, with a left kick to the face by Silva the most telling blow before Franklin was able to push his foe to the fence again. Once the two separated, Silva brought out his bag of tricks, which included spinning backfists and of course, his devastating knees. It was a right hook to the head though, which dropped Franklin at the bell, and forced his cornermen to assist him back to his stool for 60 seconds of much needed rest.

With his legs back apparently back under him, Franklin aggressively took after Silva to begin round two, but when ‘Ace’ got too close, the champion showed why he is the best fighter in the world, pound for pound, as he hurt Franklin with another right hand, and started sending a ferocious arsenal of knees the hometown hero’s way again. Finally, Franklin just collapsed under the assault, causing referee John McCarthy to call a stop to the bout at 1:07 of the round.

And when it was over, there were no boos in Cincinnati.

With the win, Silva improves to 20-4; Franklin falls to 24-3.

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[grobbo]

sounds like a great fight, i'll have to track down that last ufc